Bismarck weekly tribune., 1887-09-30
Besides the Villages OF Wheat Stacks,
There Are Herds of the
Purest Blood.
Thoroughbred Cattle That Cannot be
Beaten-Climate and Grasses
the Cause.
The Land For Sheep as Well as Roots
and Sueds-Where the Profit
is Found.
A Valley of Stacks.

A month ago the TRIBUNE estimated the
wheat crop at 6O,OOO,OOO bushels. Nowthat
estimate is confirmed by the territorial
statistician, Mr.. Mcclure, who thinks it
will even run over that figure. Of this
great yield the Red river valley counties
will furnish the largest proportion. AS the
investigator goes north the evidence of this
mighty harvest multiplies, and the nearer
he approaches the line the more convinc-
ing the conclusion that 100000 is the
product. In the lap of the northern half of
this valley of stacks rests the town of
Grand Forks. There the North Dakota
fair has just been held, and without draw.
ing on any considerable portion of the ter
ritorial division named, it was satisfac-
tory success. The attendance was princl-
pally local, significantly proving that there
are people as well as wheat stacks tribu-
tary to Grand Forks. To be financially
successful a fair must be held where the
people are. Transportation and weather
drawbacks will defeat the best fair possi-
BILE if the visitors have to travel far. The
great majority must be within an easy dis
tance. The last day of the North Dakota
fair proved the wisdom Of this years loca-
ton. There was no drawing card for Sat-
urday until late Friday afternoon. A
purse of $3.50 was raised by the town peo.
pie, and the Dakota and Minnesota girls
agreed to ride five mile race to win. "like
Mazeppa, like the wind,' the winner to
take the. purse. Quick advertising by
fn1uarC fnIarrorooS IN cfo
tions and by the newspapers was sufficient
to advise the people within practical dis
tance that there was sensation for the
last day and that it would pay to turn out
to see trial of speed and skill that might
terminate more pleasingly to their local
pride. The Saturday attendance was,
therefore, large, and saved the manage
ment or its security from loss It turned
the scales and gave the association bal
ance in the treasury. A little
PLUCKY HISTORY
is worth recalling in this connection.
The Grand Forks tornado last sum-
mer blew down the fair buildings,
the grand stand. the sheds and stalls and
the fences-made complete wreck of ev-
erything. The citizens had already put up
$4,000 to secure the fair, and failure to
rebuild the buildings and place them in
good condition would forfeit the $4,000.
In the midst of the CONSERVATION more
CONSERVATION than damage-the outlook
for complete set of new buildings and
fences was not promising. The president
of the North Dakota association saw the
dilemma the Grand Forks people were in
and promptly drew on the banks for the
$4,000 on the day following the tornado
when the press was full of the disaster
This was not considered kind or necessary,
and the banks led by Secretary McCor-
mack, promptly refused to honor the
drafts. The buildings could be rebuilt,
and it was entirely too early to say that
they wouldn't be. This imputation moved
the spirited leaders of Grand Forks enter
Prise to take vigorous action to rebuild the
fair buildings, save the $4,000 and hold the
fair in spite Of their calamities. Without
any suggestion from anyone, Vice Presi-
dent Oakes of the Northern Pacific con-
tributed $500 and j. j. Hill followed it with
$1,500 cash. This outside encouragement
had it's effect and the work of reconstruc-
ton eliminated in complete complement
of buildings, better than the old and a
credit to any county society in the west.
The topography of the fair grounds Is
level and the size is ample The half-mile
race track is almost perfect. Not one out
slider in a thousand knows there is such a
course in Dakota. 1t is in the language of
all horsemen, "a daisy"